The Dark Bride

Chapter Eight

Nefarious

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I went to the wardrobe where her dresses were hung and I frowned. Four dresses hung there next to my things. Walking to the vanity, I opened her box and saw a few accessory trinkets and they were all fakes. The costume jewelry on actors for plays looked better than what she had brought with her. "This won't do," I muttered. Glancing over to the young woman, she was shaking like a leaf in a strong gale.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you again, your grace. Our first meeting was nothing as I had hoped. I'm sorry, but I don't know how to fix this slight against you." I let out a sigh as I pushed my hair back.

"This isn't yours to fix, but mine. When we see the tailor tomorrow I'll put in a request for new clothes for you. You are to be my wife in a week and you need to look like it." She shook her head fiercely in rejection of my plan. My eyes narrowed once more at her. "Are you saying that I'm not allowed to do my job as your future husband to provide and care for you?" That seemed to have hit a nerve as she froze up right away.

"N-No, your grace. That i-isn't what I m-meant." She stood there with her head hung as she played with her fingers. "I just ask that you limit your spending on me." That was a first. Didn't all noble ladies wish to be drowned in gifts? All the ones I ever met bragged about how their latest fancy spent so much on them in the month or how they were thinking of dumping their current fling for another man who had more gold. Yet here was this twig of a woman before me, asking that I not spend money on her. Was she truly that frugal or didn't truly care that much for material things?

"I'll be the one to be concerned about how I spend my wealth."

"Yes, your grace." She bowed slightly in defeat as I turned towards the bed. Laying down on top of the fluffy comforter, I lay on one arm and the other across my stomach. After I closed my eyes I felt the bed shift slightly so I turned my head to the right to look. Lucetta had gotten on the other side of the bed. Even when sitting next to me, she had the perfect posture of a princess. She was so stiff that it seemed that she feared to relax even in the slightest. "We formally greet the others tonight before dinner correct?" She wasn't looking at me, her eyes were fixed on her fingers as she played with her knuckles.

"Yes," I said calmly before reaching my hand over to grab a lock of her long hair. My fingers played with it gently as I had the strands coil and slip around each digit. She turned her head enough to watch my hand but did not move to stop me. "Do you not fear me," I asked without looking her in the eyes. My focus was trained on the lock of hair within my grasp.

"Should I fear you, your grace?" Answering a question with a question is a classic move to avoid answering something uncomfortable. Looking up at her, I gave her hair a gentle pull so that she would lean in closer to me. Taking the hair in my hand, I pressed it to my lips for a kiss. This made her blush once more.

"Many in my kingdom fear me because of my power."

"Isn't that all the more reason why I shouldn't fear you?" Her question surprised me for just a moment, but all the while I was questioning her motives. "It must be lonely to have the world be scared of you. So shouldn't the person next to you be the one not to fear you?"

"Prove you don't fear me then." I honestly didn't expect her to do anything. We met only minutes ago and we were from enemy kingdoms. By all rights, she should fear me. Yet once again, Lucetta proved to me that I knew nothing about her as she got closer. Bracing herself by reaching across me to plant her hand into the comforter on my other side, my bride leaned in close to my face. Just inches away from my face she stopped, her cheeks still that rosy color. It seemed like she was scared that I would stop her so I simply closed my eyes. A moment later, I felt her soft lips pressed to my forehead. Opening my eyes once more, Lucetta was still close to my face but she wasn't looking at me anymore. She looked embarrassed by her actions like she had crossed a line.

"Will that do, for now, your grace?" I pondered her question for just a moment before a thought popped into my head. A way to tease my bride and better judge her character. Releasing her hair, I cupped her cheek gently to pull her face back towards mine. Her face grew redder and it looked like she was going to panic, but then gave in to her fate and closed her eyes this time. Once we were close enough to feel each other's breath wash over our faces, our lips barely a whisper distance from each other, I stopped.

"Yes, that will do for now. Darling." She let out a soft gasp as her eyes shot open. The look on her face seemed like she was disappointed. "Were you expecting more, darling?"

"No, dar- I mean, your grace!" Lucetta quickly pulled away and went back to sitting as she had before. All I could do was chuckle softly at her innocence before I went back to playing with her hair. At one point, I even caught her touching her lips while looking lost in thought.

"Would that have been your first kiss?" Her head nodded slightly as I snapped her from her thoughts. "All the more reason to take it in front of others. Maybe even make a show of it." Even Lucetta's ears grew red at the thought of losing her first kiss in such a manner. She turned towards me and had the sweetest pout on her face. She made me truly wish to kiss her then and there.